How do we know when one person or society is `freer' than another? Can freedom be measured? Is more freedom better than less? This book provides the first full-length treatment of these fundamental yet neglected issues, throwing new light both on the notion of freedom and on contemporary liberalism.

Introduction ; PART I: JUSTICE AND OVERALL FREEDOM ; 1. The Concept of Overall Freedom ; 2. The Value of Freedom ; 3. The Distribution of Freedom ; 4. Reflective Equilibrium ; PART II: VALUE-BASED FREEDOM ; 5. The Value-Based Approach ; 6. Self-Mastery ; PART III: EMPIRICAL FREEDOM ; 7. Individual Freedom: Actions ; 8. Individual Freedom: Constraints ; 9. Group Freedom ; 10. Indicators of Freedom ; Conclusion ; Bibliography

`excellent ... Those interested in philosophical issues about liberty will find this book very worthwhile' James W. Nickel, Law and Philosophy `bristles with interesting ideas, arguments, and perspectives' James W. Nickel, Law and Philosophy `an interesting and provacative book' James W. Nickel, Law and Philosophy A Measure of Freedom will provide a large measure of satisfaction to readers with a taste for provocative and inveomice philosophical arumentation `ambitious and challenging' Dan Hausman, The Economic Journal (Feb 2001) `A Measure of Freedom will nevertheless provide a large measure of satisfaction to readers with a taste for provocative and inventive philosophical argumentation.' Dan Hausman, Journal of the History of Economic Thought `Thus it seems that in order to measure the quantity of freedom, one needs to take account of the diversity and the value of the alternatives that are open to an agent. Carter challenges these plausible views. Diversity does matter, but only insofar as it reflects differences in the extent of freedom (pp.198-204).' Dan Hausman, Journal of the History of Economic Thought `Claims about quantities of overall freedom are empty unless there is some way to measure them, and Carter accordingly discusses how they should in principle be measured as well as what sort of practical measurements are feasible. He boldly takes issue with the view, which has been endorsed by both philosophers and economists, that one needs to take into account the value and diversity of alternatives open to an agent, rather than merely their number of "extent."' Dan Hausman, Journal of the History of Economic Thought `Although this book will mainly be of interest to philosophers, Carter's striking arguments will be of value to economists working on questions concerning the formal representation of freedom. The issues with which A Measure of Freedom is concerned are however also of general interest.' Dan Hausman, Journal of the History of Economic Thought `In this ambitious and challenging book, Ian Carter argues that in addition to specific freedoms, such as the freedom to quit one's job or the freedom to vote, there is such a thing as "overall freedom."' Dan Hausman, Journal of the History of Economic Thought `the book leaves advocates and opponents of the freedom-based theory of justice with a challenging research agenda.' Jurgen de Wispelare, Political Studies, Vol.48, No.4, Sept.00. `excellent book ... incisive ... does a great deal to revitalize a traditional and intuitively appealing strand of liberal thought.' Thomas Hurka, TLS Nov 3, 2000. `The book is a stimulating contribution to the literature on liberalism to its past and placing its current versions in a revealing new light.' Thomas Hurka, TLS Nov 3, 2000. Reviewed in Moneta e Credito, 1999